To understand clean beauty one must look past the myths!
There is plenty of misinformation about clean beauty, but we’re here to set the record straight.
Clean beauty is an evolving movement that can seem confusing and complicated.
Even the term ‘clean beauty’ is debated by skincare enthusiasts.
There is no definition or regulations that establishes what classifies as clean beauty.
This means a brand can claim anything it wants about its supposedly clean/green/sustainable products as there is no one to fact-check them.
As humans we are predisposed to accept negative information.
When we hear that something is “unsafe” or “toxic,” we’re hardwired to panic!
Stress and fear prevent us from thinking critically about the information we receive, especially cosmetic chemistry as it is already confusing enough for the average person to understand.
In the clean beauty world, you’ll find that a bunch of claims about health and safety are casually thrown around so it is unsurprising that clean beauty misinformation spreads like wildfire.
Be aware of conspiracy theories, cherry-picked data, and sketchy science.
Not everything is factual!
This means that you should be wearing SPF no matter what you read.
With all these wild theories, it is not shocking that many of us fear the term ‘clean beauty.’
Let us deconstruct and debunk the most common clean beauty myths.
Natural Ingredients Are Better Than Synthetic Ingredients.
This is false with a capital F.
Just because something is natural doesn’t automatically mean it’s good for you.
Think about it, some of the most poisonous ingredients in the world come from nature.
Natural ingredients are also notoriously difficult to work with when formulating products, which means their efficacy and safety won’t always be so good.
Plus, you’re basically playing with ingredients found in the environment and the chemicals in those natural ingredients vary as weather patterns, seasons, and even minerals in the soil change.
Basically, you can’t guarantee the same results each time.
When working with synthetic ingredients, however, it’s often easier to demonstrate higher levels of purity, consistency, and safety when formulating a product.
To be clear, however, this doesn’t mean that natural or plant-based ingredients are never a good choice.
Take a look at green tea, aloe vera, and turmeric, they are all incredibly effective natural ingredients, as long as they’re being used properly in a formula.
Natural And Clean Is More Sustainable.
Just because a product is natural or clean doesn’t automatically mean it’s sustainable.
To be fair, many clean beauty brands are making an effort to be eco-friendly by employing low-waste production methods or switching to minimalist packaging.
But sustainability is a huge and complicated topic!
The truth is that some natural ingredients actually contribute to climate change as the method of obtaining natural ingredients can be harmful itself.
There’s also the issue of land availability.
The world’s population continues to grow and therefore we need more land to support and feed that population.
In other words, it just doesn’t make sense to use land for the sole purpose of natural cosmetics.
Producing a synthetic ingredient in a lab puts less of strain on the environment.
Chemical Free, Toxin Free, And Preservative Free Products Are Safer For You.
The EU has banned product labels such as “chemical-free,” “preservative-free,” and “toxin-free” as they are misleading.
Let that sink in for a sec.
In the United States, however, these claims aren’t regulated by the FDA so brands can slap any of them on a jar of face cream.
And that is problematic for a multitude of reasons.
We absolutely need chemicals and preservatives for product safety, which is why it’s so important to get the facts around them straight.
Decoding labels
Chemical-free : A chemical is any substance, so that means water is a chemical, anything and everything is a chemical.
If your beauty product is calling itself chemical-free, then what is it?
Preservative-free : Products need to have preservatives unless you want to keep your beauty products stored in the fridge and replace them every three days.
Most formulas contain preservatives that keep harmful bacteria and mold from growing in them.
Toxin-free : Any ingredient, even water, can be toxic depending on the amount.
Peaches, even the natural and organic kind, release toxic formaldehyde, but we still eat them!
It’s the dose that matters, not necessarily the ingredient itself.
Your Skin Absorbs 60% Of What You Put On It
Not even slightly true.
If this was true, that would mean you would be able to get drunk off your favourite wine just by applying it to your skin.
There is this thing called the skin barrier that is designed to keep things out.
And it is really effective and efficient at doing so.
There are other factors that contribute to product absorption such as the health of your skin and a molecule’s size, charge, and chemical makeup … basically everything has to be just right.
If an ingredient does penetrate your skin, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to enter your bloodstream.
Bottom line is, don’t be scared to try clean beauty products.
You’re much more informed now to make the best skincare choices for yourself.
And make sure to pass this information on to your loved ones!
Will you be trying any clean beauty brands? Let us know!
